LOS ANGELES -- There are a few big personalities on the Winnipeg Jets roster.

Bryan Little is not one of them.

There are a handful of avid social media participants on the Jets roster.

Little is not one of them.

There are a LOT of chatty players on the Jets roster.

Little is not one of them.

What Little is -- and has become during his three seasons in Winnipeg -- is a solid, dependable and consistent two-way centre for the Jets. That doesn't sound overly exciting, and that's just the way the Cambridge, Ont., native likes it. He's a throwback in today's day and age of "Look at me!"

"It seems like the younger generation coming up is more into social media and sharing stuff," Little said Friday at Staples Center, uttering words that sound like they should come from a 76-year-old rather than the 26-year-old that he is. "That's all good, but I've just been more about keeping family and friends in the loop, keeping that stuff private."

Little has a Twitter account, but it's not under his real name. Four or five people know which handle is Little's, but it won't do them any good because he never uses it. He created an Instagram account a year ago, but it's set on private.

"Everyone keeps bugging me to get a (real) Twitter account. I've never done it this long, so I might as well never do it," he said with a shrug.

In Little's words, he likes to fly under the radar. That was easy to do in Atlanta, and you could say that was also the case in Winnipeg since he wasn't one of the league's well-known No. 1 centres. Then again, the debate about whether he actually was a legitimate top-liner was a popular one after the Jets arrived in the Manitoba capital.

More and more, Little looks like a player who can handle the role, even though head coach Paul Maurice, like most bench bosses, is not a big fan of labelling lines.

"How about he's just really good and if he plays with the right guys he can be effective in an offensive and defensive role?" Maurice said. "He has that in his game. He's a real good two-way centre, and I'm not sure I appreciated that he was as good defensively as he is."

Little has already set career highs with 37 assists and 59 points, and he will ride a four-game point streak into Saturday night's game against the L.A. Kings. He is the 15th highest scoring centre in the NHL and is plus-6 on a team that gives up more goals than it scores. He will also be tasked on Saturday night with shutting down the likes of Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar when Maurice can match the lines.

"I have been so impressed with his work ethic," Maurice said. "He's not a huge guy out there, but he competes and he plays hard and he gets stronger as the game goes and he's a smart player and he's got good hands."

But is he as quiet in the dressing room as he is in the public eye?

"He never stops talking," Maurice said, tongue planted firmly in cheek. "Seriously, you can't get this guy to shut up."

It wasn't easy, but we finally got Little to brag a bit. He admitted to being a streaky player before, but he is proud of the consistency he displays night in and night out.

"I've always wanted to be a good defensive player," he said. "I've gotten better over my career and more responsible in that way. The biggest thing now for me is just trying to get as consistent as I can now. That's one of the hardest things to do."

If he keeps that up, though, he might become a big deal. Flying under the radar would be more difficult to do. He might even have to get a real Twitter account.

He shudders at the thought.

kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/PentonKirk

Big brother watching

Bryan Little is paying closer attention to world affairs these days.

That's what happens when your kid brother joins the military.

Shawn Little, who is four years younger than Bryan, joined the Canadian Forces about a year ago, and it took him to Edmonton. The Little family was surprised by Shawn's decision, but it was behind him the whole way.

"You worry and stuff. My mom, especially, is more worried than anyone," Little said. "It was a bit of a surprise when he said he wanted to do it, but once he got the idea he was all for it and he was going to do it no matter what. We supported him, and everyone's pretty proud of him."

Given the instability in the world today, that has Little checking the headlines whenever he gets the chance while travelling around North America with the Jets.

"I do find myself checking out the news more and seeing what's going on in the world more, just in case something happens and he gets sent out somewhere," Little said. "Right now it's just been good, because he's been holed up in Edmonton."

As Advertised in the Winnipeg SUN

Winnipeg Jets' Bryan Little prefers low-key

LOS ANGELES -- There are a few big personalities on the Winnipeg Jets roster.

Bryan Little is not one of them.

There are a handful of avid social media participants on the Jets roster.

Little is not one of them.

There are a LOT of chatty players on the Jets roster.

Little is not one of them.

What Little is -- and has become during his three seasons in Winnipeg -- is a solid, dependable and consistent two-way centre for the Jets. That doesn't sound overly exciting, and that's just the way the Cambridge, Ont., native likes it. He's a throwback in today's day and age of "Look at me!"

"It seems like the younger generation coming up is more into social media and sharing stuff," Little said Friday at Staples Center, uttering words that sound like they should come from a 76-year-old rather than the 26-year-old that he is. "That's all good, but I've just been more about keeping family and friends in the loop, keeping that stuff private."